BUDGET BREAKDOWN: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR WESTERN SYDNEY?

Thursday June 21, 2018

The NSW Liberals and Nationals work hard to put people first and this budget does too.

There is no doubt that the NSW Budget 2018-19 is a budget for Western Sydney, with record investments in education, health, jobs, and cost of living initiatives, which will continue to make Western Sydney an even better place to live, work and invest.

Across Western Sydney the NSW Budget 2018-19 delivers:

COST OF LIVING:

Cost of living is a pressure faced by many families and individuals in Western Sydney and the NSW Government is responding by increasing savings measures.

The NSW Government is committed to helping families by reducing the cost of living:

A new Creative Kids rebate to save families $100 per school child to help meet the cost of creative extra-curricular activities. This is in addition to the $100 active kids rebate.

$19 million to develop a new Cost of Living Service at Service NSW centres to improve access and awareness to Government rebates and refunds. Pilots will kick off at Parramatta and Wetherill Park.

$197.8 million to extend support for preschool education to three year olds.

$157 million to support new families – The package includes $9.3 million for 100 more midwives, $4.3 million for increased postnatal home visits, $5 million for research into childhood cancer and other genetic disorders and an $150 baby bundle that contains essential practical items for a newborn and information on how to access help for postnatal depression and anxiety.

A ‘one-click energy switch service’ which will find cheaper energy bills and allow you to change your provider with a click of a mouse.

A typical Western Sydney family with two children could be eligible for savings of more than $1500, including energy rebates, active kids vouchers, CTP savings and free rego through the Toll Relief program.

We know that cost of living pressures are a challenge for many families and individuals and we are doing everything we can to support families when they need it.

HEALTH:

An unprecedented $5.7 billion hospital blitz to redevelop Liverpool, Nepean, Blacktown, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt Hospitals. Wherever you live in the Mulgoa electorate, your local hospital will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility.

A new $157 million support package for new families which will boost the number of midwives and family health nurses, invest in treatments for children’s diseases and provide practical and emotional support to parents.

A $1 billion boost which will pay for an extra 950 nurses and midwives, 300 doctors and 120 allied health workers. An extra 750 paramedics and ambulance call centre staff will also be funded.

EDUCATION:

$6 billion over the next four years to build new and upgrade existing schools, including Cecil Hills High School, St Clair High School (underway) and Cecil Hills Primary School.

$500 million for air-conditioning in over 1000 schools.

In an Australia first, the NSW Government will invest $200 million to support 3 year olds to attend preschool.

ROADS:

$438 million for connections to Western Sydney airport including the M12 Motorway to link the M7 and the new airport.

$200 million to improve roads right across Western Sydney.

Up to $2.6 billion for stage one of the F6 motorway from Arncliff to Kogarah.

JOBS AND INDUSTRY:

100,000 free apprenticeships to ensure there is a strong pipeline of skilled workers across the State. A new $285 million skills and training package will offer free apprenticeships in any course at TAFE and non-TAFE providers approved to deliver apprenticeship programs.

Small business - The payroll tax threshold will be lifted from $750,000 to $1 million. The move will see the threshold rise to $850,000 in 2018-19 and then in $50,000 increments until it reaches $1 million.

The NSW Liberals and National are committed to making lives better, and this Budget does just that.